Comedy, Black, Blunt, & Bill Staines top music picks

Thursday

May 1, 2014 at 12:35 PMMay 1, 2014 at 3:26 PM

THURSDAY'S BEST

There are comedy shows all over the place this weekend, starting tonight when the legendary and semi-notorious Bobcat Goldthwaite headlines Johnny D's in Somerville. Meanwhile, The Sinclair in Cambridge hosts two shows of this weekend's Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival featuring Mirman himself tonight--there's two more shows Friday at the Sinclair, and then the Saturday show is at Berklee Performance Center in Boston. Hingham native Bow Thayer brings his new music to Atwood's Tavern in Cambridge. Quincy blues guitarist Sam Gentile joins big-voiced Brian Templeton at Turner's Yard in Pembroke. The dual guitars of Strunz & Farah return to Scullers in Boston. That Nickel Creek show at the House of Blues in Boston in sold out. "Big Head" Todd Park Mohr, minus the Monsters, plays at Brighton Music Hall. Club Passim in Cambridge has a show devoted to producer Jim Rooney's new book, with songwriter Pat Alger also performing. Jana Kramer sings at The Paradise in Boston. The Julia Zerounian Ensemble brings world music to The RegattaBar in Harvard Square. Priscilla Ahn at T.T. the Bear's in Cambridge. Keyboard giant Ron Levy jams with Willie J. Laws at The Next Page in Weymouth. Russ Costa's SongAsylum at Home Ice in Quincy. The Slick Rock Tour, with MC Kabir, at the Middle East in Cambridge. Superfly's funk at The Beachcomber in Quincy, with reformed folkie Suzanne McNeil guesting on vocals.

FRIDAY'S BEST

An intriguing cross-cultural event at Johnny D's, where New York City r&b star Martha Redbone, who has Native American ancestry, has recorded her latest album "Garden of Love: the Songs of William Blake" in Nashville, and explored Americana amongst her other roots. Boston's own songwriter, via Alabama, Amy Black celebrates her latest album at The Narrows Center in Fall River. Pablo Palooza, a funk act featuring American Idol alumnus Mike Davis, debuts at The C-Note in Hull. Racky Thomas' blues at The Next Page. The Deadbeats rock Brighton Music Hall. Walking the Line brings the country-rock to Toby Keith's in Foxboro. Boogie & the Firemen heat up Home Ice. Weymouth rock quartet Bald Walter takes over the British Beer Co. in Franklin. Smooth jazz saxman Paul Taylor at Scullers. Folkie Margaret Glaspy at Club passim. Splash of Blues invigorates Great Chow in Abington. The Sounds of Italy, featuring Italian-American musical stars including Beantown's own George Garzone, at Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge. The Middle East offers Kasta, described as 'Russian rap,' and if you're wondering about that, the $60 day-of-show ticket price tells you they must have an audience.

SATURDAY'S BEST

A rare chance to see a folk music legend up close, when Bill Staines visits Bridgewater's Off-the-Common Coffeehouse. British popster James Blunt headlines the House of Blues. Comedy goes local when the Whitman VFW hosts the annual show to benefit the Wampatuck Lodge of Masons Scholarship Fund, featuring Paul Nardizzi and several other comics. Folk group Brother Sun performs at the Beal House in Kingston. Ghosts of Jupiter rocks Brighton Music Hall, and get there early to catch Tim Gearan and Dwight Ritcher--two excellent openers. The Midway Cafe in Jamaica Plain hosts a Cranktones Reunion with that classic rockabilly trio's lineup of Pembroke guitar ace Frankie Blandino, bassist Johnny Sciascia, and drummer Stan Kozlowski. Buzzard & the Blues Band at The C-Note. Gord Downie, with The Sadies, rocks The Sinclair. Bagful of Blues arrives at Home Ice. Memphis Rockabilly Band at Johnny D's. Pop singer David Gray has sold out his show at Boston's Colonial Theater. The rapper known as Vinnie Paz (as opposed to the Cranston boxer) appears at The Paradise. New England r&b titans Steve Smith & the Nakeds at The River Club in Scituate. NH rockers Fire in the Field have a CD release at The Middle East. The New Band (which needs a new name) at the Next Page. Christopher Williams at Club Passim. Wollaston's Paul Kenny & Cherry orchard raise the roof at Paddy Barry's in Quincy. Splash of Blues moves into the Ming Dynasty in Marshfield. Fusion guitarist Robben Ford's show at the Narrows Center is sold out. Weymouth alt-country dude Dave DeLuca joins with songbird Brianna Grace at Stoughton's new House of Brews. Soccer Mom rocks Great Scott in Allston.

UPCOMING

Sundays continue to rule: Cage the Elephant thunders into Boston's Orpheum Theater; Bill Nye, the Science Guy, gives a 'Star Talk' at Berklee Performance Center and it's part of that Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival; folk-rockers Melissa Ferrick & Jillette Johnson at The Sinclair; Brother Sun moves over Temple Sinai in Sharon; Chuck Whelan brings his own cheeseballs to the jam at Paddy Barry's; and Brian Mahoney takes no prisoners at The Irish Pub in North Quincy. Monday night is big when The Standells bring 'Dirty Water'; to Brighton Music Hall; while M.I.A. finds the groove at the House of Blues; and Against Me rocks Royale in Boston. Tuesday night that Lana Del Rey show at House of Blues is a sellout; but tickets remain for Shlomo at Brighton Music Hall; or Matt Pond, Pa. at The Sinclair. Wednesday night catch roots rocker Ben Kweller at Brighton Music Hall; or soul-gospel trio The Holmes Brothers at Scullers. The sublime music and lyrics of Rodney Crowell returns to the Narrows Center on May 8. Sorry, but those May 9 shows by Foster the People (House of Blues) and country dude Hunter Hayes (Paradise) are already sold out; but may we suggest you head to Atwood's Tavern for the Americana royalty of husband-wife Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis.

THURSDAY'S BEST
There are comedy shows all over the place this weekend, starting tonight when the legendary and semi-notorious Bobcat Goldthwaite headlines Johnny D's in Somerville. Meanwhile, The Sinclair in Cambridge hosts two shows of this weekend's Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival featuring Mirman himself tonight--there's two more shows Friday at the Sinclair, and then the Saturday show is at Berklee Performance Center in Boston. Hingham native Bow Thayer brings his new music to Atwood's Tavern in Cambridge. Quincy blues guitarist Sam Gentile joins big-voiced Brian Templeton at Turner's Yard in Pembroke. The dual guitars of Strunz & Farah return to Scullers in Boston. That Nickel Creek show at the House of Blues in Boston in sold out. "Big Head" Todd Park Mohr, minus the Monsters, plays at Brighton Music Hall. Club Passim in Cambridge has a show devoted to producer Jim Rooney's new book, with songwriter Pat Alger also performing. Jana Kramer sings at The Paradise in Boston. The Julia Zerounian Ensemble brings world music to The RegattaBar in Harvard Square. Priscilla Ahn at T.T. the Bear's in Cambridge. Keyboard giant Ron Levy jams with Willie J. Laws at The Next Page in Weymouth. Russ Costa's SongAsylum at Home Ice in Quincy. The Slick Rock Tour, with MC Kabir, at the Middle East in Cambridge. Superfly's funk at The Beachcomber in Quincy, with reformed folkie Suzanne McNeil guesting on vocals.
FRIDAY'S BEST
An intriguing cross-cultural event at Johnny D's, where New York City r&b star Martha Redbone, who has Native American ancestry, has recorded her latest album "Garden of Love: the Songs of William Blake" in Nashville, and explored Americana amongst her other roots. Boston's own songwriter, via Alabama, Amy Black celebrates her latest album at The Narrows Center in Fall River. Pablo Palooza, a funk act featuring American Idol alumnus Mike Davis, debuts at The C-Note in Hull. Racky Thomas' blues at The Next Page. The Deadbeats rock Brighton Music Hall. Walking the Line brings the country-rock to Toby Keith's in Foxboro. Boogie & the Firemen heat up Home Ice. Weymouth rock quartet Bald Walter takes over the British Beer Co. in Franklin. Smooth jazz saxman Paul Taylor at Scullers. Folkie Margaret Glaspy at Club passim. Splash of Blues invigorates Great Chow in Abington. The Sounds of Italy, featuring Italian-American musical stars including Beantown's own George Garzone, at Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge. The Middle East offers Kasta, described as 'Russian rap,' and if you're wondering about that, the $60 day-of-show ticket price tells you they must have an audience.
SATURDAY'S BEST
A rare chance to see a folk music legend up close, when Bill Staines visits Bridgewater's Off-the-Common Coffeehouse. British popster James Blunt headlines the House of Blues. Comedy goes local when the Whitman VFW hosts the annual show to benefit the Wampatuck Lodge of Masons Scholarship Fund, featuring Paul Nardizzi and several other comics. Folk group Brother Sun performs at the Beal House in Kingston. Ghosts of Jupiter rocks Brighton Music Hall, and get there early to catch Tim Gearan and Dwight Ritcher--two excellent openers. The Midway Cafe in Jamaica Plain hosts a Cranktones Reunion with that classic rockabilly trio's lineup of Pembroke guitar ace Frankie Blandino, bassist Johnny Sciascia, and drummer Stan Kozlowski. Buzzard & the Blues Band at The C-Note. Gord Downie, with The Sadies, rocks The Sinclair. Bagful of Blues arrives at Home Ice. Memphis Rockabilly Band at Johnny D's. Pop singer David Gray has sold out his show at Boston's Colonial Theater. The rapper known as Vinnie Paz (as opposed to the Cranston boxer) appears at The Paradise. New England r&b titans Steve Smith & the Nakeds at The River Club in Scituate. NH rockers Fire in the Field have a CD release at The Middle East. The New Band (which needs a new name) at the Next Page. Christopher Williams at Club Passim. Wollaston's Paul Kenny & Cherry orchard raise the roof at Paddy Barry's in Quincy. Splash of Blues moves into the Ming Dynasty in Marshfield. Fusion guitarist Robben Ford's show at the Narrows Center is sold out. Weymouth alt-country dude Dave DeLuca joins with songbird Brianna Grace at Stoughton's new House of Brews. Soccer Mom rocks Great Scott in Allston.
UPCOMING
Sundays continue to rule: Cage the Elephant thunders into Boston's Orpheum Theater; Bill Nye, the Science Guy, gives a 'Star Talk' at Berklee Performance Center and it's part of that Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival; folk-rockers Melissa Ferrick & Jillette Johnson at The Sinclair; Brother Sun moves over Temple Sinai in Sharon; Chuck Whelan brings his own cheeseballs to the jam at Paddy Barry's; and Brian Mahoney takes no prisoners at The Irish Pub in North Quincy. Monday night is big when The Standells bring 'Dirty Water'; to Brighton Music Hall; while M.I.A. finds the groove at the House of Blues; and Against Me rocks Royale in Boston. Tuesday night that Lana Del Rey show at House of Blues is a sellout; but tickets remain for Shlomo at Brighton Music Hall; or Matt Pond, Pa. at The Sinclair. Wednesday night catch roots rocker Ben Kweller at Brighton Music Hall; or soul-gospel trio The Holmes Brothers at Scullers. The sublime music and lyrics of Rodney Crowell returns to the Narrows Center on May 8. Sorry, but those May 9 shows by Foster the People (House of Blues) and country dude Hunter Hayes (Paradise) are already sold out; but may we suggest you head to Atwood's Tavern for the Americana royalty of husband-wife Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis.